Adam lungen



(No Modell A. LUNGEN.

v SELF WINDING ELEGTRIG GLOGK.

No. 528,960. Patented Nov. 3 1894.

. INVENTOR m Zzugqem ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM LUNGEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT EDWARDS, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,960, dated November 13, 1894.

Application filed May 13,1393. semi N0.474,11s. momma.

To all whom it may concern: of two coils having a back yoke b and pole Beitknown that I, ADAM LUNGEN,acitizen pieces Z), Z). The pole-pieces project someof the United States, residing at New York, what from the heads of the magnet spools in the county of New York and State of and are made in the shape of a quadrant, one

NeWYorl ,haveinvented certain newand useof the vertical sides of the quadrant being ful Improvements in Electric Self-Winding parallel to the axis of the coil. Along the base Clocks, of Which the following is a full, clear, of these vertical sides of the poles and close and exact description. against the heads of, the magnet spools, one

This invention is an electromechanical ap- 0f the shafts c of the gear train is suitably Io paratus for automatically storing power at mounted. This shaft carriesapinion c which regular intervals to drive a train of wheels or transmits power to the train shown in Fig. 3.

a clock. Arranged upon .this shaft at the points 01, The object of the invention is to provide- (1' is asoft iron plate 01, forming the armature an apparatus of this description, which shall of the electro-magnet.- One edge of this arma- 15 be as simple as possible in its construction ture extends alongclose beside the shaftcand and which shall be economicalin the use of it is notched or provided with openings 01 the electric current which supplies the power. which permit the pole-pieces of the magnet In many of the self-winding clocks heretoto pass through the armature as it swings fore produced, the motor has been found to upon the shaft 0. The center of thearmature 2o consume more power than was actually used between the pole-pieces is also cut away to in winding the spring or driving the train, make room for the, wheel e on shaft 0. The the reason for this being that the making face of the armature is provided with a strip and breaking of the circuit through the moof felt or rubber d which acts as a cushion tive device is not accomplished simultanewhen the armatureis drawn against the heads 25 ously with the times when the useful work of of the magnet spools. Owing to the location the motor begins and ends. In other words, of the pivotrof the armature and the shape of the circuit is kept closed after the motor has the pole-pieces, the armature has a clear done its work, and when the motor is enerswing of ninety degrees. gized at short intervals the aggregate loss in The armature is made sufficiently heavy 3o battery power, which is the power commonly so that in falling from its horizontal posiused, makes thiskindof apparatus expensive. tion, it will have power enough to drive the My invention is specially designed with a train of wheels, and in order that the power View to using open circuit batteries wherein exercised by the armature when thus moving the length of time the circuit remains closed may be uniform throughout the full move- 5 during each period is of great importance. ment of ninety degrees a counterpoise d is My invention consists of the construction fixed to an arm upon the shaft 0, and arranged and combination which will now be described in such a position that it will retard the first with reference to the accompanying drawings, portion of the downward movement of the in which armature and accelerate the last portion.

40 Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical sections On the back of the armature is suitably through the frame of the apparatus showing mounted a short shaft f carrying a pawl f. the parts of the invention in elevation. Fig. A coil spring f surrounds the shaft, and acts 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus,and Fig. upon the pawl with atendency to force it 4 is a detail. inwardor toward the armature. The pawl 45 Referring to the drawings by letter, A repbears at its free end upon the periphery of resents the frame in which is supported a \wheel e, which is notched at points ninety number of wheels constituting the clock train degrees apartto engage with the pawl. The or any train of gearing, through which power wheel is set upon the shaft so that when the is to be transmitted. armature is horizontal the pawl will be in 50 13 represents an electro-magnet consisting one of the notches. The pawl is provided with a laterally projecting pin f located at the tip for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

g represents a bell crank lever, the two arms of which are fixed to a rock shaft g. One of the arms is adapted to engage with an electrical contact 2', and the other occupies a plane parallel and closely adjacent to wheel e. Spring g acts upon one arm of this bell crank. The outer end of this arm carries a depending bracket 9 which extends around the shaft c, and is provided with a short cam surface 9 standing beside the periphery of the wheel. At the point where this bracket joins the arm g there is a laterally projecting lug g which is adapted to engage with the notches in wheel a.

On one of the shafts of the train and preferably on shaft 0 is'a disk j, having four notches arranged ninety degrees apart upon which a pawlj bears. The end of the pawl has a cam surfacej and it is held against the periphery of the wheel by a springj When the end of the pawl drops into one of the notches the spring forces the cam surface against the shoulder of the notch and forces the wheel forward.

The arm 9 and the contact i are the terminals of an electric circuit including the electro-magnet.

The operation of the device is as follows: At starting, we will assume the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1. The circuit is closed and the magnet becoming energized lifts and swings the armature through ninety degrees or into the position shown in Fig. 2. In making this movement pawlf' moves from one notch to the other of wheel c. When it drops into the second notch pin f strikes the cam surface of bracket g and lifts it, thus carryingthe lug g out of the notch of wheel e, and releasing thewheel and simultaneously breaking the circuit between 9 and 2'. The magnet then being de-energized, the weight of the armature carries it downward and it acts as a crank upon shaftc by reason of the engagement of pawl f with the wheel e. The movement of the armature is therefore imparted to the train of wheels. After the armature has traveled a short distance the pin f is carried out of engagement with bracket 9 The bracket then falls by the action of spring g and the lug 9* slides upon the periphery of wheel 6, the notch in said wheel having been carried past the lug. When the armature reaches the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, wheel e has presented the next notch to lug 9 which permits the bracket g to fall and swing the bell crank forward until it strikes 2', thus closing the circuit and again energizing the magnet, when the same operation is repeated. Just as the armature reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, the pawl j drops into one of the notches of disk j and during the movement of the armature back to its horizontal position which is very quick, this pawl forces the train along thus continuing its movement. As the train will be provided with the usual regulating escapement this action of the pawl will not make the movement at all. irregular. It will be seen that the moment the magnet has done its work the circuit is opened, and the moment the armature has done its work the circuit is closed. The circuit of the magnet is closed but a moment, while the armature is a comparatively long time in falling. An open circuit battery can therefore be used with this device with good results.

It is to be observed that springs may be employed in the place of gravity wherever the latter is utilized in this apparatus, in which case the apparatus may be turned on its side or into any other position, if desired.

The peculiar shape of the pole-pieces of the magnet and the location of the pivot of the armature keep the armature under the influence of the magnet throughout the entire length of its stroke and permits of a very long stroke.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an electric clock the combination of an electro-magnet, an electric circuit, a vibrating armature, a notched wheel engaged and moved by the armature,a circuit-closing lever also engaging with said notched wheel, the armature engaging said circuit closing lever and lifting it out of engagement with the wheel before it engages and moves the wheel, itself.

2. In an electric clock the combination of an electro-magnet, an electric circuit, a vibrating armature, a pawl carried by said armature a notched wheel adapted to be engaged by said pawl and moved by the armatu re and a circuit-closing lever adapted to engage said notched wheel, the pawl when entering a notch before it engages and moves the wheel, itself acting upon the lever and throwing it out of a notch for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric clock the combination with the magnet, armature and pawl of the circuitclosing lever provided with bracket g and cam surface g and the notched wheel e adapted to be engaged by the pawl and lever in alternation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADAM LUNGEN.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, W. A. OPPERMAN.

IOC

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